Bill Clinton tells Congress he knew nothing of Epstein’s crimes

Former US President Bill Clinton has denied any knowledge of criminal activity by the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, telling lawmakers he neither witnessed wrongdoing nor participated in it.

In a prepared opening statement shared on the social media platform X, Clinton said: “I saw nothing, and I did nothing wrong. I know what I saw, and more importantly, what I didn’t see. I know what I did, and more importantly, what I didn’t do.”

Clinton explained that his upbringing in a home affected by domestic abuse meant he would never have travelled with Epstein had he suspected any misconduct, adding that he would have reported him and demanded accountability rather than accept any “sweetheart deals.”

The deposition, held in New York, followed a decision earlier this month by Clinton and his wife, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, to comply with a subpoena from the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. The couple agreed to testify rather than face potential contempt of Congress proceedings. Hillary Clinton also appeared in a closed-door session earlier in the week.

Clinton said his limited acquaintance with Epstein ended years before the crimes became public. “Though I never witnessed during our limited interactions any indication of what was truly going on, I am here to offer what little I know so that it might prevent anything like this from ever happening again,” he said.

He also criticised the decision to question his wife, stating she “had nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein” and did not recall ever meeting him.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said he was uncomfortable seeing Clinton deposed but added that investigations had targeted him more aggressively in the past. “Look, I like him, and I don’t like seeing him deposed,” Trump said.

Democratic congressman Robert Garcia has since called on Trump to appear before the committee, noting that Trump’s name appears in Epstein-related files alongside Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

Epstein’s case remains a deeply divisive political issue in the United States, with lawmakers and victims’ advocates demanding greater transparency about his network of associates and anyone who may have enabled his crimes. Calls have also intensified for the wider release of official records linked to Epstein’s connections across political, business and academic circles.